Korea Mission Field - The Korea Mission Field, August 1909 (v.5, no.8)

CHONG JU SPECIAL NUMBER.

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KOREA MISSION FIELD.

Vol. V SEOUL, KOREA, 15th AUGUST, 1909. No. 8.

Having found in many books different methods prescribed of going
to God, and divers practices of the spiritual life, I thought that this
would serve rather to puzzle me, than to facilitate what I sought after,
which was nothing else, but to become wholly God’s. This made me
resolve to give the all for the all ; so after having given myself wholly
to God, to make all the satisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced , for
the love of Hun , everything that was not His ; and I began to live , as if
there were none but He and I in the world.

* * * *

* * *

For at all times, every hour, every minute, even in the height of
my business, I drove away from my mind everything that was capable
of interrupting my thought of God.

* * *

* * *

When we are faithful to keep ourselves in His Holy Presence, and
set Him always before us ; this not only hinders our offending Him, and
doing anything that may displease Him, at least wilfully, but it also
begets in us a holy freedom, and, if I may so speak, a familiarity with
God, wherewith we ask, and that successfully, the graces we stand in
need of. In fine, by often repeating these acts, they become habitual , and
the Presence of God is rendered as it were natural to us.

From the Letters of Brother Lawrence, in the “ Practice of the
Presence of God.”

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THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

THE DELIGHTFUL STATION OF CHONG-JU AN APPRECATION.

Not that it has hills, for other stations have them ; not that it has an ancient wall,
and a lot of huts, and rice fields, and a sluggish river ; not even that it has beautiful
sunsets, nor the quiet of the old life of Korea ; nor that its ancient name is associated
with the literati ; nor even that it has a hill with a number of mission houses on it, can
make it a delightful station; but that grouped together in that little company of
Americans are good will, and amiability, and hospitality unlimited, flavoured with the
north of Ireland, and Switzerland and Pennsylvania. We have l^ere a growing
church, crowds of inquirers, a lot of happy Christians, a school, evangelistic work all
round about, peace and good will on the part of everyone, gratitude and thanksgiving
from the hearts of the lowly.

J. S. Gat.b.

A LETTER FROM CHONG JU.

Chong Ju, Korea. July 22, ’07.

My dear Friends,

This is a quiet evening in a country like place ; there is a little village below ns,
and the city is quite near, but there are fields around this Mission property, and river,
plains and hills lie before us. I've been resting in the steamer chair on the veranda of
the home of Rev. and Mrs. F.S. Miller. Anna's big black cat is here, waiting with the
intention of catching some of the frogs which are in the garden. I hear Korean voices,
some calling, others in conversation. Mr. Miller, too, is talking ’with a couple of
Koreans as they stand near a pile of tiles which were left over from the buildings which
have been erected here.

To the West, beyond the rim of monntains, the red glow of the sunset lingers ; the
smoke from the supper fires in the city is hovering low, and a row of trees and the rice-
fields separate us from the walled city of Chong Ju.

To my left, a huge spider has been spinning a web ; and the moon, almost full,
lends her beauty to the surroundings.

July 30th. This has been my holiday month to such an extent that even most
letters have been laid aside to be answered when I go back to work, when there are
more things for me to write about.

However, I didn’t wish to forget to mention several interesting characters belonging
to this compound, and to put some notes about this station where I could find them to
send them home.

Anna Miller is the happy little girl of this house-hold, and her two particular pets
are “ Snow-ball " and “ Nigger " the white kid the and the old black cat. She carries
the cat around, or he follows her, most of the time, and doll's clothes and a small bed are
used for him at times; bed-time stories or stories from the Bible, and slumber songs are
also used for his benefit, as occasion requires.

“ Sky-lark ” and “ Megaphone ” are donkeys who make rounds with the colporteurs
who are under Mr Miller’s direction. Mrs. Miller tells me that “Sky-lark” likes to
eat tracts and bite children, and that the colporteur has sometimes used the tract-eating
as an illustration to men who refuse to take one of the printed leaves, saying, “ the

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donkey is wiser, for see, he eats it.” These musical creatures occasionally give us the
benefit of their voices.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller and their little daughter Anna are now the only residents of
this Station, and are earnestly desiring reinforcements. Two families among our mis-
sionaries who had been appointed to this place were compelled because of ill health to
leave Korea, and the excellent work which was looked for from Rev. and Mrs. Ernest
Hall and Dr. and Mrs. Null, is left for others. Who will come ? and when ?

Dr. and Mrs. Null were here only a few months, and Mr. and Mrs. Hall never got
here at all.

A very desirable Station site was secured, and Mr. Miller built first a “ gate-house”
— (a little house at the gate) where he and Mrs. Miller lived for about three months, .
meanwhile going on with the building of two small houses to be used for reception — and
class rooms for the Koreans, and will be used as residences until the
permanent homes are ready. Mr. Miller has had one house finished, in which

they are now living. It is very pleasant and convenient, a story and a half high.
Perhaps you can imagine something of the task of building it when I tell you
that all the bricks and tiles were made here, the kilns remaining for further use.
Windows, doors, floors and hardware, were ordered from United States. Stones were
brought from a fortress a few miles away, and some others, with histories, form the
steps from the hall — and dining — room verandas. Boxes in which supplies came from San
Francisco, by the way, have helped supply the material for flooring parts of the attic
and narrow outside passages. Trees and vines have been set out, white clover sown, and
berries and vegetables planted in the gardens, so that it is possible now to make less use
of tinned good.

As yet, no well has been dug, and all the water has been brought from a stream
below, which is now almost dry. The Koreans have dug a narrow channel in the river
bed through which a tiny stream flows, and I heard Mr. Miller say that/they had made
a sort of reservoir in one place, from which they dip water, at night, with a special con-
trivance, to throw into the channel to flow on and be -used along its course. A log is
hollowed or shaped so that it may dip the water as it is swung from a high tripod by a
rope. This method is often used in watering rice-fields.

Last year there was a great flood : the river changed its course, and finding its way
through the city vails, 400 houses were carried down the torrent, and 40 or 50 lives lost.
Many refugees came to the Mission compound and stayed until the waters subsided, and
it was an introduction to Mr. Miller and the Cause which has had greater effect upon
the people than ordinary contact could have given in a much longer time.

While the building of houses was in process the carpenters always slept in a thatched
workshop on the place, and singing, Bible reading and prayer were nightly exercises,
with encouraging results.

Chong Ju is 10 a miles south of Seoul, and 12 miles from the railroad; 10,000
people live in the city and vicinity. The work to be done from this city extends
80 miles north, 60 miles south, 70 miles west, and 33 miles east. There are this year
44 meeting places under Mr. Miller’s care ; last year there were 26.

There are 14 churches this year, compared with 5 last year. 102 communicants are
now enrolled, 260 catechumens, and contributions reported thus far amount to $408.03 gold.

Last year there were 46 communicants, 68 catechments, and contributions
amounted to $264.10 gold.

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THE KOREAN MISSION FIELD.

Because of the work of building, Dr. Null’s sickness, etc. Mr. Miller was able to
do only 12 week’s itinerating during the year. Three helpers and three colporteurs
are working in these country districts. The city church, two and a half year’s old,
with an average of two hundred attendants, contributes $12.50 gold per month towards
the support of two schools with four teachers. There are 80 pupils, the Girl’s school
having an attendance of 13.

Although Dr. and Mrs. Null were not able to make a fair beginning in
Medical work here, there presence was a great help and inspiration, and their love
for the Koreans evidenced itself in so many kindnesses that the church was filled with
disappointment when their return to the liomeland became necessary. A Korean lately
Said to Mr. Miller that many died while waiting for a physician to come to Chong
Ju. Mr. Miller has been holding a summer class for five or six men — his helpers —
in which they have Bible study from 9 a. m. to almost 12. They also study Geography
and Arithmetic in the afternoons.

The work for women has been encouraging too. 30 to 40 women attend the
Sunday service, and there are, besides, from 5 to 50 sight-seers. Mrs. Miller has a
Thursday class, and after the lesson is over, she generally brings the visitors up to
her house, to see the study, sitting-room, dining-room and kitchen ; — not the bed-
rooms. She says there was so much Typhus Fever and Small-pox last winter that
they could not allow a crowd of people to come in, so waited for the Spring, when
the doors might be kept open. Not infrequently as many as 100 visitors came in one
afternoon, and once there were 300.

One of the Christian women makes her living by peddling, and is very diligent
in taking tracts for distribution as she goes on her journeys. Mrs. Miller says that
here stock probably includes needles, skeins of thread, and certainly face-powder, hair-
oil and aniline dyes.

Yours very sincerely,

, Esther Lucas Shields.

Severance Hospital,

Seoul, Korea.

7 i

BUILDING.

While Chong Ju at present can boast of only one brick house and two Korean
built houses of five rooms each, yet the future looms up brightly. Mr. John P.
Duncan, of New York, has given us §5,000.00 for a hospital and we have appropria-
tions for two new residences, so that by next fall we hope to have a row of four j
brick houses erected, a constant reminder to all who look this way that the j|
messengers of the Gospel of Peace are here ready to lead them back to God.

One coming to Chong Ju at the time we bought our wood for the burning of
our bricks and tiles would perhaps have been inclined to class us with the great I
bloated employers of labor of newspaper cartoon fame. We bought a mountain side |
of wood and it took from 50 to 100 men about two weeks to cut the trees. Then 1
followed a busy scene when from 400 to 700 were employed daily to carry the wood |
in on their backs. This took another two weeks. Were it not for the fact that the I
laborer’s wage is but fifteen cents a day we would not have been able to have had

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the wood brought in. Again after the wood was all in, about 50 men were employed
for another two weeks cutting and stacking it into two huge piles waiting to be used
in preparing good brides and tiles, when the order came to go ahead with building
operations.

In the winter the Executive Committee gave us permission to begin work on the
hospital and the two residences. We immediately let the contracts for the burning of
the brick and tile. About half of the work has been done and we hope to complete
it in the fall so we can push the work of building in the spring.

Edwin Kagin.

DOMESTIC PROBLEMS.

Dr. and Mrs. W. C. Purviance.

Our first six months in Korea were spent in Syen Chyun, where we had no house-
hold problems to face. We boarded with one of the other families of the Station,
ate and grew fat, and thought how easy it was to tell the cook what you wanted for
each meal, and then have it served very much like it would have been served at home.
But we did not know how many weary hours had been spent in the kitchen teaching
that “Wonderful Korean” how to do such cooking, nor how many years it had
taken him to learn how to serve such viands.

When we came to Chong Ju and moved into our little mud house, our troubles
began in earnest. We laid our matting and rugs, moved in what furniture we had,
and thought we were settled for the winter, but the first cold, windy day that came,
soon changed our ideas. In the first place the smoke insisted on coming down the
stove pipe, instead of going ijp as smoke should, and filled the rooms until we had to
open windows and doors in order to breathe at all. Then the matting and rugs
became imbued with life and rose and fell on the wooden floors like the waves of
the restless sea, and from every crack and crevice came the howling and screeching of
the boisterous wind. As we looked upon the smoke-filled rooms, the waving carpet,
and heard the noise of the wintry wind as it wrhistled through the cracks, we wondered
whether it were real life, or whether we were on 9, trip to Mars.

We soon came to the conclusion that it was no dream, and that something had better
be done, so we tore up the matting and rugs, made some paste of paper, alum, flour and
water and set to work chinking up the cracks in the floor. Then we climbed upon the
roof and put an extra joint of stovepipe and a hood on the chimney and, pasted Korean
paper over the cracks in the walls and around the window sills. After this, things were
not so bad. By putting a stove in every room, but one, we managed to get through the
winter. All this time however we were encouraging ourselves with the prospect of a
new brick house in the future.

But this was just a beginning. We had to have a cook, and any one who has had
this problem to settle in Korea knows huw to sympathize with us. We decided to try
a man who had been recommended to us as a good prospective Chef. He had
never had any experience, and had never been employed in a foreign house, but
he had a trying mind, and we had a mind to let him try. Shortly after this
a young Korean, with his hair done up in a snarly topknot, dressed in dirty

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clothes, with a fuzzy little beard over his face, appeared at our door and announced
that he had come to do our cooking. “ Well we thought, “ has it come to this ? ”
Nevertheless he had a bright eye, a good honest face, and a sturdy body to recommend
him, so we decided to give him a trial.

After he had been with us a few days the topknot dropped off and he looked
a little more civilized. He bought some new clothes, shaved off the little fuzz
which grew around his chin, and we began to have some hopes for him. He
soon learned how to read, and now he reads the Bible and offers prayer in morning
devotions. We now considered our cook on the upward road, but little did either
of us dream what mountains of difficulties we had to climb before we could attain to
even moderate success.*

Our cook was willing enough to have prepared for us food fit for a king, but
his utter ignorance of our ways and means, together with our very limited Korean
vocabulary, did not promise very much for our digestion. In spite of our often
repeated assertions that we could not dfink the water unless it was boiled, we did
drink it unboiled several times One morning we told him to make some hash and
to be sure and put plenty of onions in it. The Korean words for onion, and pear
are very similar. The next morning we had hash made of Korean pears, about as
uninviting a dish as one would care not to eat. He watched us make tomato soup
and saw that we put sugar in it. The next time he made soup, which happened to
be potato soup, he most religously added plenty of sugar.

At lunch one day we had a guest, and asked him if he would not have some
water, for his glass was nearly empty. He said yes he believed he would have a
little, so we handed the cook, who was waiting on the table, the glass which con-
tained perhaps, an ounce or two of water. He looked around the room for a place
to throw the water and finding no special provision had been made for such
emergencies he stepped over in the nearest corner and threw the water on the
floor :

He was preparing to fry some eggs one day when we noticed an awful odor
coming from the kitchen and we went out to see what it was. “ Why : Cook,”

“ What is that terrible odor ? ” “ American lard,” he replied, “ But,” said we,

“ American lard does not smell that way.” “ Yes it does,” he said, and stuck the
bucket under our noses. He certainly had good grounds for his conclusions. When j
asked why he used such lard he replied,” Korean lard does not smell that way,
but not knowing anything about the American lard, he thought that was the natural I
smell. Upon investigation we found that he had poured a bottle of sweet cooking I
oil into a pail which contained some old rancid lard.

He learned to tell the time of day, and picked up some of the English names
for some of our food. He said if he learned English it would be very useful to him
when he went to America. But when he was told that the trip to America would
cost him two or three hundred dollars gold, he decided he would not make the journey for
a little while as he is only receiving about four dollars a month. His chief delight
now is to stand in the kitchen door and preach and give tracts to the sight seers
who flock to our houses every week. He seems to think that we are all Socialists
and Communists, and that when he lacks anything in the kitchen, all he has to do
is go to the nearest foreign house and borrow it, and as we are all Americans it
does not make any difference about paying it back.

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133

But he is learning many valuable lessons and so are we. At first he smashed
dishes faster than we could replace them, but one day he awoke to the fact that he
had to pay for half the dishes he broke, and since no such ruling had ever been made,
to his knowledge, the clouds of discontent arose on his brow and he was really
provoked at those foreigners, but he soon cooled off and now the dish breaking problem
is settled.

These are only a few of our domestic problems, but they have afforded us much
amusement as well as some trying hours. But our homes are not always the scene
of worry and trouble. Sometimes we have a “ social ” time and every one adds to
the entertainment of the evening. We take account of Anniversaries and Holidays.
Eight adults celebrated last Thanksgiving in Chong Ju, and it is interesting to note
that that this was the total number on the whole field of Korea when Mrs. E. S.
Miller first came out. Our Christmas we enjoyed with the Korean S. S. children in
their first Christmas exercises at the Church, and later on in the day at Mr. Miller’s
house, around the brilliant tree, from which hung candy popcorn, persimmons and
mandarin oranges for each. That first Christmas in Korea was a very happy one,
though spent very differently from any we ever had at home, and we decided, that
after all, we are happiest when we make others happy.

One birthday was celebrated with a real Korean feast. We ate our Korean food
with chop sticks off the little Korean tables. The host and hostess were clad entirely
in Korean costume, and attempted to speak nothing but Korean all evening, but they
found it too much for them, and resorted to the dear old mother tongue.

Let us tell you of two of our Korean Friends, Mr. and Mrs. O. The husband was
formerly well-off) but refused to devote his life to the Lord’s work, until after
he had suffered reverses. He became involved in some political complications, his
property was confiscated, and he was thrown into prison in the very town where he
had refused to go and preach the Gospel. But like Jonah, he began to preach after
the Lord had driven him to it. He preached to the jailor, to his fellow prisoners
and to all with whom he came in contact. He was afterward released from prison
and has been a faithful, devoted follower of the Master every since. He is now the
leader of the church in his village.

Mrs. O, his wife, is a power in our church here in this Province. She is a woman
of strong personality and a born leader. She devotes the most of her time to preach-
ing to women all over the Province, and receives no salary except just enough to hire
some one to do the work in her home while she is absent. May there be many
such workers as these two faithful Christians, Mr. And Mrs. O.

SOME FEATURES OF THE MEDICAL WORK IN CHONG JU.

. W. C. PuRVIANCE, M. D.

In March 1908, we arrived in Chong J u, and had a glimpse of the field in
which we were to carry on our work. But the regular medical work did hot
begin until after Annual meeting of 1908, when Chong Ju was formally declared'a
separate Station, and was manned with three families and a single clerical worker.
If a small beginning indicates the future greatness of the work, the medical

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THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

work in Chong Ju lias very bright prospects indeed. The only available building
which could be used as a dispensary, was Mr. Miller’s gate-quarters, and even
these were occupied, but a notice of ejection was filed against the occupant, and
in a few days he hastily removed his household goods, and made room for the
new dispensary.

After making the necessary repairs, we unpacked our drugs and took posession
of the building. By dividing one room by a curtain, we enjoyed the distinction of
having two rooms, one a drug room, and the other a room where we could see
patients, both rooms being very small and cosy. A few Korean straw mats, a couple
of borrowed chairs, some hastily manufactured shelves, and an examination table,
completed the furnishings of our new dispensary.

The difficulty of prescribing for patients, when they could not understand a word
you spoke, and when you could not understand what they said, soon became apparent.
The gestures and the bodily contortions we conjured up and used to each other in
lieu of speech, would put the signs of the deaf and dumb alphabet to shame. But
it is remarkable how well one can convey thought through these rude methods of
communication.

When a patient wanted to impart to me the fact that he had been having extreme
pain in his stomach, he would express the agony on his face and place both hands
tenderly over his abdomen, and then to be sure that I understood he would turn
loose such a flood ,of undeterminable utterances, that it left no doubt in my mind as
to the diagnosis of the case and the severity of the symptoms. We promptly ad-
ministered the indicated remedy, my teacher having preached to him, gave him a
tract and he went on his way rejoicing.

It was not long before not only the Christians, but the unbelievers began to come
to the dispensary for treatment. They had heard of some remarkable cures that had
been made, and which we were ourselves unable to account for, except through
Divine Healing. One case in particular was a woman who had swallowed some lye
and a stricture of the aesophagus had resulted.

She was thinner than the original walking skeleton, having taken nothing into
her stomach for days. She had given up to die, when some of her friends advised
her to come to the foreign doctor, as he could do no more than kill her anyway.
She came, and after making a careful examination we determined to pass a stomach
tube, but after many trials this proved impossible. Having done all we could for her
we sent her away, but gave her no hope of recovery.

A few weeks afterward a patient came to the dispensary and said his rice would
not go down, and wanted us to poke that long thing down his throat too,
saying that the woman who had come to us starving was now eating rice by the bowl
full and was growing fat. That long rubber tube did such good service that we have
had to purchase a nice new one with a bulb on it, which makes it more effective.

At the present time we have two medical assistants in the dispensary, Mr. Kim
and Mr. Yi, two good men who bid fair to be of great help in the medical work’.
My teacher, Mr. Pak preaches to the patients and distibutes tracts. He has also
given thirty of forty anaesthetics and bids fair to become skilful along this line.

The dispensary is open each afternoon and patients are treated, operations
performed, and wounds dressed. We try to make our work as personal as possible
and to give to each individual the advantages which he most needs to help him

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135

become a believer, and if he is a believer to strengthen his spiritual life. We
have had some very happy experiences in knowing that our work has been the
direct means of saving souls for the Master.

One old gentleman had to have is finger amputated. He called daily at the
dispensary for treatment. At first he took little interest in preaching or in the
church. A new interest was aroused in him and you might see him at every
service, right down in front, with his eyes wide open and listening to every
word that was spoken.

A heathen woman came to the dispensary. Was healed. Became interested
in the Gospel. Now she has moved into the city so that she may attend all the
services and prepare herself for admittance to the Church.

A father brings us his child which has been fearfully burnt. The heathen
mother strongly protests against having her child come to a Christian foreigner
for treatment. The child recovers. The family has moved to Chong Ju, and are
all regular attendents upon our services. Many such instances can be sighted where
souls have been led into the Kingdom through the influence of the medical work
and often they are people who can be reached in no other way.

The work is extending out to the Japanese. One of our Moksas as was coming
home from the market, when he was accosted by a Japanese who inquired if he
were a doctor. He said, no, but that he would take him to the doctor. We
went to see the Japanese woman who was at the point of death. An operation
was performed. The woman made a good recovery, and since that time we have
been having our share of the Japanese patients.

Since the medical work is growing every day, we are getting ready to make
use of the new hospital, which Mrs. Duncan of N. Y. has made possible through
her gift of $5,000, gold. While we are doing work in crowded quarters now, yet
we have that vision of a. nice roomy hospital to encourage us.

During the year we have given over two thousand treatments, in the dis-
pensary. Many of the patients came to us from villages 65 or 70 miles distant.
While on a tour with Mr. Kagin this year, as he visited the eastern groups, we
found men and wonen in almost every village we visited, who had been patients
at the dispensary. Since we have no beds we cannot accomodate regular in-
patients, but when severe operations are necessary, we perform them, and after a
few hours the patient is carried to a house in the village whence he is brought
daily to the dispensary for treatment and dressings. Despite these inconveniences
none have lost their lives from operations. We have had numerous calls to visit
patients at their homes but have visited only those who could not be brought to us.

While the work here may not seem large from a statistical standpoint, it
represents many days of hard labor under adverse circumstances. We feel that we
are doing the Master’s bidding, and we look forward to the perfecting and to the
enlarging of the medical work, which has been so richly blessed during the past
year.

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THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

Published monthly at Seoul in the interest of all the Evangelical Missions in Korea.

Edited by Katherine Wambold.

Annual subscription, including postage, one yen, or 50 cents gold, or 2/1 English
Curreney.

Single copies 10 sen, three of same issue for 25 sen.

Subscription may be sent to

Mr. M. H. Ilogel, 156 Fi fth Ave., New York, Dr. A. R. Leonard, 150 Fifth Ave.
New York, Rev. J. E. McCulloch, 346 Public Square, Nashville, Tenn.

Upon business matters address Rev. F. G. Yesey, Business Manager, Seoul, Korea.

The “ Korea Mission Field ” is published primarily for the readers in the
United States and Europe. By giving a special mission station report from time
to time we hope to show what our work is like, — that the work of a station is
that of a little world in itself.

TO AIL FRIENDS IN KOREA.

• > 4 ' . y K V * J

Dear Brethren and Sisters.

Doubtless you are already acquainted with the particulars respecting the General
Council, and the Bible Conference that is to be held immediately after, October
10th to the 16th, which will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Chapman and Mr.
Alexander, and for which your prayers are specially requested.

The Union Church extends an earnest invitation and a warm welcome to you
to attend these special meetings, which we believe will afford a wondrous means
of grace to all who join in them. We feel this to be a special opportunity, and
a gracious privilege in which all our friends in Korea should participate.

If you will do your utmost to join us in these seasons of spiritual uplift, we
will do all we can to provide accomodation and comfort for the days you are
with us.

We send you greetings and pray God’s best blessing on your work.

On behalf of the Church
I remain,

Yours, Fraternally,

F. G. Vesey,

Pastor.

S. P. Kindly address all communications to the Pastor.

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137

It was with great anticipation that we approached Chong Ju last January, when
going there to help in a women’s class. Finding a crowded church and mission
houses, was quite different from what we found on a visit some years ago, when
we had gone all of the way from Seoul with coolies and a native chair with
Mrs. Ho for companian. We were to go to a church over a high pass above
Chong Ju, but the coolies must stop to eat here, as it was the only place for
many li to obtain food, Rev. F. S. Miller, who had planned the journey, said
he feared there would be trouble here as there would be crowds desiring to see
the foreign woman. His predictions were perfectly correct. Before we could get out
of the chair, there were such crowds pressing to see that the chair began to crack
and break, the people near being pressed on by those farther back. Yu, a faithful
and somewhat belligerent coolie, succeeded in getting us into the court of a friendly
house, but he was beaten in the ribs, and the horse hair band about his head torn
in the process. A few, disappointed in not seeing the foreigner, threw pieces of wood
over the wall, but no harm was done. Last winter, preaching from house to house,
and everywhere welcomed, one was constantly reminded of the contrast.

A GLIMPSE AT THE WOMEN’S WORK IN CHONGJU.

Mrs. Ltjle Byram Purviance.

This part of our work has been one of great joy because of the great increase,
both in attendance and in the interest in spiritual things. The work has not been
extensively carried on. It is only in its beginning. We have but a few helpers in
the city Church and until the Bible-woman came to us from Pyengyang, in Feb., we
had only one woman to tell the story of the Gospel to the thousands of women and
girls in this Province. Mrs. Miller was unable to do any itinerating and Miss
Doriss is the only one of us who has been able to visit any of our groups. The
women are calling loudly for the foreign lady and next year we hope to spend many
days with them.

Within the past six months the attendance among the women upon the Sabbath
services has doubled, and many new faces will be here to greet Mrs. Miller when she
returns from her furlough.

Our visits in about forty of the homes of the women, where we had service with
them, have been a great help and joy, and we have been very sorry that we have
been unable to visit in the many others into which we have urged to come. I never
was more cordially welcomed into any American home than into these poor Korean
huts, and I am sure I never came away from an American home with a happier heart
than from some of these hovels of mud and thatch.

It is very interesting as well as very encouraging to watch the development in
some of our new women. Especially is this true in the case of the wife of one of our
language teachers. Last Nov. Mr. Miller secured him as a teacher for one of our new
Missionaries. Mr. Oh had been a Christian for some time and his life here among
us has proved him to be one of the most devoted Christians we have. But his wife
was not a believer, nor under any consideration, would she come to Chong Ju with
her husband, nor have anything whatever to do with his religion. He came in with

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THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

his father and mother who had not believed, but who were ready to hear and believe.
He taught Miss. Doriss faithfully day after day, and by his untiring efforts and interest
proved himself to be one of the best teachers in the station, but he never ceased to
pray for his wife, that her eyes might be open to the Gospel, and that she might be
reconciled and move into Chong J u. We prayed with him in her behalf. The womeh
' in the Thursday Bible Class prayed for her, until finally she came to keep house for
him, bringing with her their little baby girl.

She was still very indifferent to the Gospel, and refused to go to Church, though
she lived only next door. She was a dirty, unattractive woman, and though we went
to her home and had prayer with her, she would not talk much, but rather sneered
at us for coming. However, we kept telling her how much God loved her aud show-
ed her in every way possible how much we were interested in her, and finally she
made a complete surrender to the Master. She went to Church, began to study the
Bible, made herself new clothes and her face brightened and her life grew happy.

Miss. Doriss took a special interest in her and had her come up to the house to
help with the mending. Soon she got her interested in making and dressing some
Korean dolls, which we wished to send to America, taught her how to sew on the sewing
machine, and the woman’s life opened up. Were we now to show you a picture of
the woman as she came to us from the country, and another of this bright happy
Christian, you would hardly recognize the one from the other.

And so we might tell of many other brightened lives ; of the wife of the Christian
man who brought his badly burned baby to Dr. Purviance for treatment. How she
mistreated the little fellow' because the father first insisted on coming in from the
country about seventy li for medicine, and then because he insisted on bringing the
child in for treatment. She would have nothing of his religion, but after some five
months she too brought her family into Chong Ju that she might be with her husband.
When I sawr her, I asked her if she were now ready to believe in Jesus, and her
face brightened as she replied, “ Yes, that is w'hy I moved in.”

THE GIRL’S SCHOOL.

Mrs. Lula Byram Purviance.

•

Among the first things I learned about the work in the Chong Ju church, after
coming here after t lie close of Annual Meeting, last Sept. w*as the great desire among
our Christians for a Girl’s School. The boys had a good school of about forty with
three teachers, and the steady advancement of these lads, who could read and write
and Were studying Chinese, was beginning to make our little girls somewhat jealous
of their brothers, some of whom were younger than themselves. The parents, too,
were awaking to the fact that their little girls should be taught to read and w'rite as
the boys. Mrs. Miller had started a little school for the girls, but it had to be
abandoned for lack of a teacher and lack of funds.

Among the first things I understood in Korean, were the pleas of these little
girls, that I would w'rite to a teacher to come over from America to teach them, as
if by merely w'riting a letter a teacher wTould immediately be on hand, they, never
realizing that if she should come from America, she would have to spend years

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139

learning that same language which they were so desirous to study, before she could
assist them very much to aseend the heights to which they were aspiring.

Difficulties presented themselves on every side. We had nothing with which to
make a beginning, neither funds, nor a teacher, nor a building, nor equipmeut.
we took this trouble to the Lord in Prayer, as all the problems of the opening of Chong
Ju have been taken, trusting in Him for these necessities. The Christians prayed
with their usual faith for which the Korean Christians are known, and we joined
them for God’s will in this matter.

The answer soon came. In February, Mr. McCune of Pyeng Yang found a young
girl among the students up there who was willing help us. She came down with
her brother, who was being sent to fill a vacancy in the boy’s school, and started the
school for the girls. The girls were happy as were all of us. Though there was no
money for the school, the Christians, with some assistance, were able to raise a sufficient
amount, and we secured a dwelling for the school house. We started the school on
Washington’s Birthday with an enrollment of nineteen but it has now grown to twenty-
nine.

CHONG JU BOYS SCHOOL.

About five years ago a school was started by the church in an old building that
had cracks in the walls, holes in the floors, and leaks in the roof. The only light
they had filtered through the heavy Korean paper pasted over the lattice doors.
Here from day to day one teacher, and sometimes two, taught from twenty to thirty
boys who were hungry for an education.

Last year the village deeded a building to the school. From the sale of this they
realized $200.00 and with $50.00 added by the church they put up a four roomed
school house. It has mud walls but the building is high, airy and well lighted bv
glass windows.

During the past year sixty-two boys have been enrolled. On July 3rd we had
our first commencement exercises. Amid singing, speech-making and the presentation
of gifts, thirteen of the boys were given diplomas, certifying that they had completed
the course of study prescribed in the primary department. Several of the graduates
were young married men and many are earnest Christians. All claim to be believers
Not long ago one of the boys spoke to a crowd of men at the market, and for abont
ten or fifteen minutes he held the undivided attention of more than sixty men as he
urged them to accept the Gospel and receive Eternal Life.

The local Christians take a great pride in their schools as was shown by the
profusion of gifts showered upon both the boys and girls at commencement.

We are hoping to be able to start a middle school in the fall. We must train
up helpers if we hope to see the church develop properly, and the only way to
train them is through Christian schools.

In May the local authorities arranged a great school tournament. Hundreds of
school boys marched in from all sections of the province to. participate. Contests
including field sports, drilling and arithmetical problems were drawn off. It was
with great satisfaction that we saw our own church schools come out in the lead.

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THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

Our little school from Sin Tai took first place while our local boy’s school took
second place. This has given our schools a fine prestige in the eyes of all the heathen
school boys.

EDwiN Kagin.

KOREAN LAD WALKED 58 MILES TO ATTEND A BIBLE
STUDY CLASS HELD AT CHONG JU.

Last December (1908) among those who attended the Bible study classes held at
Chong Ju, was Piung Oo Chai a Korean lad of about 13 years of age. His home
is at Chiung Poong, 175 li or about 58 miles North East Chong Ju, and this distance
he walked in order to learn more about the life and character of the One who has
brightened his life and saved his soul.

We do not mention this one as an exceptional case, for many came from
equal and even greater distances, but most of the others were grown men and
women. Few come who are so young as this one.

Last march I started out on my first trip in the country. Mr. Koons from Chair
Ryung in the North came down to help us in the absence of Mr. F. S. Miller, who
is now in America. We had a horse for each, to carry our food and dishes, our
bed, and our clothes and books, and to ride when we get too tired walking. We
traveled about 180 miles in 8 traveling days (1 Sunday), thus averaging about 22
miles a day, and holding meetings at from one to three places each [day where
groups had been organized. At these services there were from 5 to 40 present
who professed to have a desire to love Christ and were trying to learn more about
Him. In addition to holding services, candidates were examined for acceptance,
either, as Catechumens or Baptized members.

Some were refused baptism because their record, which is marked each Sunday
and kept in a book for that purpose, showed that they had not been faithful in
Church attendance. Church attendance is taken as a fair mark of religious
earnestness.

At Chong Ju each market day — every fifth day — thousands come streaming in
from the country to buy and sell, carrying on their backs loads of wood or dried
grass, used for fuel, brush for fence, crockery, brassware, baskets, tables,
boards sawn by hand, straw shoes, and many other articles. On these days we
have preaching at the market among these crowds of buyers and sellers. At the
first note of the cornet, numberless curious inquiring, faces are directed toward
the spot where they are to see what new animal or curiosity has arrived. Then
the native preacher takes the stand and tells them why this curious foreigner has
come — to tell of the Gospel story.

W. T. Cook.

THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

141

CHONG JU STATION.

By Edwin Kagin.

i

PERSONEL.

Rev. F. S. Miller.

Mrs. F. S. Miller.

Rev. Edwin Kagin.

W. C. Purviance, M. I).

Mrs. W. C. Purviance.

Rev. W. T. Cook.

Mrs. W. T. Cook.

Miss S. A. Doriss.

Chong Ju is one of the baby stations of the Korea Mission. It is barely a

year since she was born, but she a lusty youngster, and bids fair to grow into a

vigorous and useful child.

Work was begun in N. Chung Chong Province by the Presbyterian church,
U. S. A. about thirteen years ago when Rev. F. S. Miller and Kim Hung Kyung
took charge of the group at Chung Ju Sa Chang. They made itinerating trips
in various directions and later on pushed the work over into the Southern
Province.

In 1904 Mr. Miller and his helper, Kim, came to Chong Ju to gather the
nucleus of the church and to buy suitable land for the station site. In the spring
of 1905 Mrs. Miller and the three children came down to join Mr. Miller. They

made their first home in the little Korean house that afterwards became their

gatequarters. They lived here until they could build a larger Korean house, where
they lived until the brick house was completed. Though the overseeing of the
building was a sore trial, requiring supervision from daybreak until sunset, yet
there were many blessings springing from it. Daily prayer meetings were held for
the workmen, and many learned of the Savior. The building of the house proved
a great attraction for miles around, and multitudes flocked in to see the wonderful
house that the man from beyond the ocean was building. After the four-roomed,
mudwalled Korean house was completed an old Korean woman of 80 years
walked in a distance of 20 miles to look at the marvelous house. As she was
shown through the four rooms with their high ceilings and simple furnishings her
eyes opened in wonderment and she exclaimed in rapture “ This is heaven : I

have been spared to live for this one sight.” Poor soul it must have seemed
like heaven as she compared it with her own little mud house.

Soon after the completion of the brick house a great flood came and swept
away 400 houses down in the city. Thousands of the people flocked up to the
mission compound where they were given food and shelter until they could find a
place to go to. This kindness won the hearts of many and paved the way for
the Gospel message.

Mrs. Miller deserves a word of appreciation for the fortitude with which she
endured the loneliness , of her position as the only woman in the station. As she

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THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

was twelve miles from the railroad the only chance she had to get out and see
new faces was, when she went to attend Annual Meeting in the fall. In the spring
of 1907 Dr. and Mrs Null arrived in Chong Ju to begin medifcal work, but after
a three month’s stay ill health | drove them back to America. Rev. and Mrs.
Ernest Hall were also assigned here, but on account of ill health they were not
even able to visit the station. So Mrs. Miller with one child bravely remained
at her post until re-enforcements came in the fall. After Annual Meeting Rev.
Edwin Kagin joined the station and the following spring Dr. and Mrs. Purviance
came out from America. After spending six months at Syen Chun they came
here to begin their work. In the following November the station was further
re-enforced by the arrival of Rev. and Mrs. Cook and Miss S. A. Doriss. The
station at present numbers eight grown-ups and three children. We hope to have
another clerical worker soon and are asking for another single woman worker and
a trained nurse.

The growth of the work has been most encouraging. A conservative estimate
gives us a total of sixty groups and meeting places, an average attendance of 1083,
a baptized membership of 227, a catechumenate roll of 265 with about 1700
adherents. These churches contributed over §700.00 for various expenses. We
have at present two elders, three helpers, four colporteurs and two Bible women at
work in this field.

The crying need in this section is for more trained leaders among the groups in
the outlying districts. We also need more capable teachers for our church schools.

It was with many misgivings that we saw Mr. and Mrs. Miller leave for
their furlough last December, for we realized that we must meet many responsibilities
that we were not prepared for, and many problems that our limited knowledge of
the language and want of experience were unable to handle. However He who
has promised to be with us to the end has not failed us once, and all has gone
well.

CHONG JU CITY CHURCH.

It was about nine or ten years ago that Rev. F. S. Miller and Kim Hung
Kyung visited the great markets of Chong Ju and preached the Word. A church
sprang up in the village of Kong Him, 15 miles to the southeast of the city and
later a strong group wras started in the village of Sin Tai six miles to the w7est.
In the fall of 1904 Mr. Miller moved to Chong Ju and with Elder Kim gathered
the results of their many years preaching in the market place and in homes of
the people. The church grew7 very rapidly, the building having to be enlarged
three times within a year. The church continued to grow steadily until two years
ago when the crisis in the political affairs of the country scattered the flock and
checked the spread of the Gospel. During the absence of Mr. Miller in the

summer the rebels were threatenning the city. The fact that the rebels respected
the Christians and would not molest them led many to think that the church
was in league with the enemy and consequently they were under suspicion. In
spite of the sneers, taunts, and threats of those opposed to the church, Elder Kim

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143

and his little band bravely stood at their posts, and by a consistent straightfor-
ward life convinced all that the church was here to make better men and better
citizens out of the people, and that it had no desire to interfere with the political
affairs of the nation. $

After the return of the missionaries in the fall the church took courage and
gradually resumed its normal condition. Growth was rather slow until the last
winter when we started a series of evangelistic services during the woman’s class.
At that time many, both among the men and among the women, decided to
become Christians. Last fall the average attendance at the services was only about
165, but during the month of May the average ran up to 265. At times we have
succeeded in getting as many as 360 people into our building and then had
sightseers on the outside.

Our church has become entirely too small for our purposes. Having so many
crowded together in such close quarters makes the air very unwholesome, and makes
it well nigh impossible for us to conduct our Sunday School of thirteen classes with
any degree of comfort. We are hoping and praying that the way will soon be open
for us to erect a building that will seat from 500 to 1000 people as the tide seems
now to be turning towards the Gospel.

It is true that in the city we are having an attendance of only from 250 to 360
and that this is but little in comparison to the multitudes who turn out at Chemulpo,
Seoul, Pyeng Yang and Syen Chun. But when it is remembered that the work here
is yet in its infancy it will be seen that the progress is most encouraging. The con-
flict is moving on satisfactorily and we feel that the Cause is bound to triumph. We
think that even now we see a cloud of dust on the horizon and faintly catch the
’sound of hoof-falls as the Conquering Rider from Edom bears down on us in His
victorious march to deliver these provinces captive to His sovereign Father’s will.

IN DIFFICULTIES.

By Edwin Kagin.

When Mr. Miller left for America he left suddenly. Nearly all of the fall was
spent in the country among the churches. There was little time to instruct the new
missionaries. Just before he left he came in from a country trip and after a few
hours of hasty conference he tossed the reins into our hands and told us to drive
ahead. It was very much like handing the reins over to an inexperienced driver,
but fortunately this team has been well trained and showed little disposition to take
the bit in their teeth and plunge ahead along the way. From a worldly standpoint
it certainly appeared as if we were in a hard case, but we remembered the words
from the German, “ He has helped. He helps, He will help.” So we trusted to Him
and He has seen us tfius far on our way, and we go on with the trust that He will
continue with us.

The first thing after Mr. and Mrs. Miller got out of town was a congregational
meeting for the selection of deacons. We did not know that the meeting had been
called, and were considerably surprised when one of the Christians came up for us in
the evening, telling us that the congregation had assembled and was waiting on us,

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THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

We doubt if we knew how to put the question in parliamentary terms and we can-
not certify that we followed the Korean idiom when we spoke, but nevertheless we
accomplished what we came together for as we succeeded in electing the deacons.

Then came the woman’s class.* Women were coming in from villages forty and
fifty miles distant, but there was no woman to teach them. So off one of us had to
go to Seoul in searcli of a Bible woman. Non« was to be had, but He who never
slumbers nor sleeps was watchful of His own, and he sent a lady missionary down
to help, which was much better than we had asked for.

During this class a man came down from a city twenty-five miles distant saying
that the Christian teacher in the public school had been ordered to stop teaching the
Bible. The church then had him to open a church school whereupon the local
authorities tried to interfere and breakup the school. So the “Moksa” had to mount
his wheel and make a hurried trip over mountains and across valleys into an unknown
country and among strange people. He had been told that there was a man there
who had been in America, and knew English well so he could depend upon him to do coolie
on the interpreting. When he reached the place he found that the man had been on a
plantation in Hawaii, and had picked up a little “ pigeon English ” which was more
difficult to understand than Korean. The interpreter therefore had to be discarded and
the new “ Moksa” had to make his first plunge in public speaking in the Korean language.
It is an open question as to whether the people understood much of the sermon, but
the Spirit used broken phrases, expressions of the face, actions, songs and prayers to
communicate sympathy and encouragement, so that the “ Moksa” left the group feeling
that his visit had accomplished its purpose.

Later on the teacher in the local boy’s school resigned, and we did not know
where to turn for another. We also had no teacher for the girl’s school, nor did we
have money to pay her salary, nor did we have a school house. We also were in
sore need of a Bible woman. When the situation seemed hopeless we turned to the
Lord in prayer and soon a boy’s school teacher, a girl’s school teacher, and a splendid
Bible Woman were on their way to us from Pyeng Yang.

Funeral bells also sounded their mournful notes and wedding bells jingled in
happy measures. Kim and Yi had both been put under discipline, one because he
had taken a widow a few days after her husband had died, without a marriage
ceremony, and the other because he had married a heathen. They both showed signs
of repentance and with their wives were faithful at church so the “Moksa” told
them that they might bring their friends and have a Christian marriage ceremony
They came and with some feelings of uneasiness the new missionary attempted his
second marriage ceremony in Korean. Happily he did not get the couples mixed,
but tied the knot firmly and they are living in peace and respectability before their
brethren.

Other wedding bells jingled but they jingled out the tune “ when a man marries
his trouble begins.” Yi thought his boy was old enough to marry and contrary to
the instructions of the sessions he married his sixteen year old son to a heathen girl.
Yi was suspended. — Kang had a boy of about thirteen. His wife was not well and
they needed some one to help do the washing, ironing and cooking. The simplest
way to get help was to get a wife for the boy. As they could not find a Christian
girl they secured a heathen one. This got Kang into trouble for when he applied
for baptism he had to be denied, because he had knowingly violated the rules of the

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145

church. Kang Choon’s marriage also got him into trouble. He married a woman
who had left her husband, and because he said he could not send her away he had
to be put under discipline. He was a promising member, but he had to lay aside
the offices of trust that had been committed to him aud be made an example of for
the sake of the purity of the church.

Paik Si was a teacher in the Sunday School, but one day a drunken neighbour
came into her court yard and demanded a book he had loaned her. She refused to

give it to him as he was drunk, and words followed. The man abused Paik Si

calling her vile names. Being of a quick temper she seized a stick and gave the
man good trouncing, pursuing him out into the public highway. In the eyes of the
Koreans it was a very wicked thing for a woman to give a man a beating, so the
“ Moksa ” and the elder called her up for an examination, and though she was

repentant, they had to give her five months in which she was to learn to control her

tongue and her fists, before she could again take up her office oi Sunday School
teacher.

One day a man came in from a distance of sixty miles. He bore a letter from
a group which asked to be dismissed to a sister denomination. When asked to
explain he said that the “ Moksa ” had not helped them with their school, and that
’ one of the helpers of a certain missionary had told them that if they would apply
to the missionary he was working for, he would see that their school was recognized
by the government and he would also help them financially. The “ Moksa ” did not
doubt that the other missionary was ignorant that his helper was proselytising, but he
had to mount his wheel and with his helper make a four days trip in the face of
a hard wind and under a blazing sun to the scene of the trouble.

There were churches that caught the school fever. They had no money,
no teacher, no school house and but a few children of the school age, but
nevertheless they wanted to organize a school. If only the “ Moksa ” would
consent to head the list of officers as the “Kiochang,” or superintendent, all would be
well and the school would be a success. So they seemed to think.

No one who has never had the expreience can fully appreciate the feelings of the
new missionary as he sits opposite his Korean helper, and there in the effort to piece
together a connected story of the facts in some difficult school situation or complicat-
ed marriage problem. Nor is it trying on the nerves of the missionary alone. The
Korean also suffers as he tells the same story over again in different and simpler form
in the effort to be understood. Some times it looked as if there was no other way
out but to give up in despair, but in the end all works out well.

The climax of the school matter was reached when the “Moksa” had to call on
. the governor to urge him to hurry our school reports on into the hands of the
national school authorities so we would received recognition. Pie racked his brain
for all the high endings he could lay hold of and went forth to the interview. It was
successful, for the governor was gracious enough to overlook all ignorance of Korean
etiquette and polite language, and gave the assurance that all would be well attended
to. The “ Moksa ” came out after the interview thanking God and once more took
courage.

Many Koreans have the idea that the “ Moksa ” is a sort of inexhaustible supply
of ready cash. Says your teacher “ Please loan me $200.00 to put out on interest so I
can pay 'my daughter’s expenses at the school in Seoul.” A man, who has walked in

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THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

for 15 miles to see the doctor, is told that he must remain here and take a month’s
treatment. He has no money to pay for medicine and none to pay for his food. Will
not the doctor give him his medicine and cannot the “ Moksa ” pay for his meals ?
Choe sends a friend and she stands up before the missionaries and with a glowing in-
troduction, with humor and pathos, eloquently pictures her friend’s need and asks for
a loan of $5.00 for him, in order that he may buy materials to put up a new house.
Pai Si’s husband is in prison sentenced to be executed as a rebel. He has sent word
asking that his little boy be sent up to Seoul to the prison but she has no money.
Can’t the missionaries help out? Helper Kim’s wife has just had an operation per-
formed and his aunt is about to have one performed. He has no money, no house
of his own, and has been asked to move out of the house he is in. There is no way out
of it says he, than that the “ Moksa ” lend him $40.00 to buy a house. And so it
continues — requests for money come from all sources and for all manner of things.
The problem is to give wisely and to those who are worthy.

Not only is the missionary supposed to be rolling in wealth, but he is also expect-
ed to know how to do everything from doctoring babies to building houses. Says a
man “ My baby’s milk is not agreeing with it how shall I feed it ? ” Another comes
with his clock under his arm and he says “ Moksa my clock took sick and now it is
dead. Won’t you please fix it for me?” Another wants you to send to America for a
watch. One wants you to order him some rubber collars, patent leather shoes, etc.
This man wants to know how to plant the rice seed that the missionary who i
home on his furlough has sent out from America. The captain of the local Japa-
nese garrison wants to know wThy you don’t teach the people how to raise honey
bees.

In spite of all the various duties, perplexing problems and constant interrup-
tions to language study, God has given the assurance that it is all according to
His plan, and even though we are “in difficulties” yet we know that He who pro-
mised “ Lo I am with you always ” will never break his pledge.

THE BLIND CHUNGNIM.

Edwin Kagin.

One cold January day Whang came into see the “ Moksa” at Chong Ju. Whang
was born blind. His soul was also blind and lie was a “ blind leader of the blind.” He
had been a sort of devil priest and they called him a “Chungnim.” He went about de-
ceiving his poor superstitious neighbours by making them believe that it was only through
his intercession that they would be able to escape the wiles of the devils, and he succeeded
in wringing may a “ yang ” (2 sen) out of them.

But a change came over Whang. One day he heard about the Light that came into
the world. It shone upon his darkened soul and he was no longer blind. Though he
could not see men, and the birds, trees, flowers and stars like other men, yet in his soul he
saw Jesus, and his heart was filled with a great peace and joy as he changed his old life,
and tried to live the life his new Master demanded of him.

His home was down in Kyung Sung Province and Bruen “Moksa” had told him
that over in America they had a blind man’s Bible. He described it and then Whang

THE KOREA MISSION FIELD.

14?

got to thinking, with the result that he invented an alphabet] of his own. He got some
one. to make him a lot of little pieces of tin out of empty oil cans, and had them cut in
the comers in different ways to represent the various letters of the Korean alphabet. He
then had some one read portions of the Bible to him, and he strung his tin letters on a
long string. When he attended church he had a coolie carry his tin Bible in an empty
Standard Oil Co. kerosene box, and when the lesson happened to be in his collection he
would take out a string of tin and by running his fingers over it he would be able to
follow the leader as he read.

Whang heard that there was a school up in Pyeng Yang where they taught the
blind how to read the Bible. His passion was to learn to read the Bible, but Pyeng Yang
was 300 miles away. When Bruen “ Moksa ” came around again the blind man told him
of his desire to go to the school and enough money was given him to cover his railroad
fare. But Whang was poor and he had a wife and two children. He took about half of
the money, bought a lot of rice which he left for his family to eat while he was gone,
and bidding them farewell he started out to walk to Pyeng Yang. Alone, without guide,
and with but a little money in his pocket, the heroic “ Chungnim ” grasped his staff'
and started on his long journey of 300 miles to learn to read the Bible.

When he came to the “Moksa” at Chong Ju he had already made about GO
miles of his journey. He told his story and he was given some more money to pay
his car fare. A guide was provided for him beyond the forks of the road, and he
was given specific instructions to use the money in no other way than for railroad
fare.

About three months later as the “ Moksa ” was going on his way down to the
school he met a blind man carefully picking his way along with his long cane. It
was Whang returning from Pyeng Yang. He greeted the “Moksa” with a joyous
smile — said that he had learned to read, and that he was now on his way home to
transcribe the whole|Bible into the Blind characters. He sat down on the grass and
fumbled around in the pack he was carrying and produced a brass made ruler
with three rows of square holes cut in it. He slipped a piece of paper under it and
asked that some onejgive him a sentence, for a group had gathered about him by
this time. Withja little punch he made the dots which make up the blind man’s
alphabet, and wrote the sentence with a great deal of pride to himself and astonish-
ment to those who were standing about.

He said that he was not able to buy a Blind Man’s Bible, but that he was going
to make one for himself. He expected it would require a whole year’s work.

He was asked if he had ridden on the train up to Pyeng Yang after the
money had been given him. He said that he had walked to Seoul, about 100
miles north from Chong Ju, and had taken the train from there. Pie had no
doubt saved some of his money so he would have some left to buy the precious
little brass measure with which he made his characters. Pie was now on his way
back home and had walked about 100 miles, with 60 yet to make, before he
reached home. He had Christ in his heart and joy and triumph written all over
his face as he resolutely pursued his homeward way.

After he reached home he began to teach his fellow blind men of whom there
are so many in this land. He has decided to open a school for the blind and the
churches of the south are endeavouring to raise an endowment fund to provide
running expenses for the school.

Such is the result of faith and an indomitable purpose. Shame on us who
“ having eyes see not ” and all honour and reverence for the heroic “ Chung-nim,”
who though he cannot see, yet walks hundreds of miles to feel his way into a
knowledge of God, and then passes his blessings on to his unfortunate brethren. Out
of him are flowing the rivers of living waters.

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